FLIGHT, APRIL 17, 1931
RECORDS COME AND RECORDS GO
The long-distance record over a closed circuit, but recently established by Bossoutrot and Rossi, has
once again changed hands, the French pilots Paillard and Mermoz having
bettered the previous record by 200 miles
NEW long distance record for a continuous flight
over a closed circuit was again established last
week by the French pilots Antoine Paillard and
Jean Mermoz.
Flying a new Bernard 80 G.R., a low wing monoplane
known as the " Tango," equipped with a 650 h.p. water-
cooled Hispano-Suiza motor, the airmen took off from the
La Senia (Oran) aerodrome, French North Africa, at 6.35
o'clock Monday evening, March 30 last. They flew over a
closed course, encircling around Oran for 59 hours 16 minutes
at an average speed of 153 kilometres (95 miles) per hour and
landed again at Oran at 5.44 o'clock Thursday morning,
having covered, subject to verification, 9,145 kms. (5,682-7
miles). The existing record, which was established only on
March 1—3 last, by Bossoutrot and Rossi in their Ble'riot
110 plane, comprised 8,822 kms, (5,482 miles) which they flew
in 75 hours 22 minutes and was described in the March 13
number of FLIGHT. Paillard and Mermoz thus covered 323
kms. (200 miles) more than the previous record holders and in
16 hours 16 minutes less time.
The Bernard plane carried 7,180 litres (1,585 gallons
approx.) of petrol and had on landing a sufficient quantity
of fuel left to continue several hours longer in the air but the
water in their radiator had evaporated to an amount that
obliged Paillard and Mermoz to land sooner than they other-
wise desired.
Both pilots are well known in French aeronautical circles.
Jean Mermoz is the chief pilot of the Aeropostale Company,
which operates the air line system from Toulouse, France,
to Dakar, French West Africa, then by fast steamers across
the South Atlantic to Natal, Brazil, connecting there with
lines to Buenos Aires and throughout South America. He
is the only airman that has as yet made the crossing of some
3,000 kms. (1,864 miles) over the South Atlantic Ocean, from
Dakar to Natal, in a commercial seaplane. By making this
flight Mermoz also holds the long distance flight record for
seaplanes. He intends also shortly to attempt to make this
crossing again in a new and larger seaplane, which is being
constructed for the Aeropostale System by the Latecodre
Company.
Antoine Paillard is the chief pilot of the Bernard Company,
the constructors of the " Tango " 'plane. This Company is
also building a speed seaplane to contest for the Schneider
Trophy next autumn. Paillard recently flew over 500 km/hr.
(310 m.p.h.) using a training plane in one of the preliminary
tests. He has also figured in several long distance flights with
Joseph le Brix and other well-known airmen.
The Bernard 80, " Tango " plane, is a low wing monoplane
of wooden construction. It is well streamlined throughout
and has a '' finesse " of 17.5. It is of the type used by Assolant,
Lefevre and Lotti in their 1929 transatlantic crossing.
The General characteristics are as follows :—
Total wing surface
Wing spread
Length
Weight, empty
Weight, fuel
Weight, useful load
(pilots, etc.)
Weight loaded at'' take
off "
70 sq. metres (740 sq. ft.)
24.60 metres (80 ft.)
15 metres (49 ft.)
3,000 kgs. (6,615 lbs.)
5,400 kgs. (11,907 lbs.)
450 kgs. (992 lbs.)
8,850 kgs. (19,514 lbs.)
Performances.
Maximum ground speed.. .. 250 km/hr. (155 m.p.h.)
Cruising speed .. .. .. 185 km/hr. (115 m.p.h.)
Theoretical ceiling, at "take off " 2,500 metres.
Flight radius (no wind prevailing) 13,000kms. (8,078miles.)
It is currently reported that these French 'planes, the
Bleriot, the Dewoitine and the Bernard, which have been
making record performances over closed circuits will shortly
make long distance flights in a straight line across the European
continent.
R. C. W.
Front (upper picture) and three-quarter rear views of the Bernard type 80 G.R., Monoplane,
fitted with a 650 h.p. Hispano-Suiza engine.
"-• Airwoman's Altitude Record record for women pilots, when she reached a height of
'N April 9, at New York, Miss Eleanor Smith made 32,000 ft. She only had sufficient fuel for five minutes'a ma
y prove a successful attempt to beat the altitude flight when she started to descend.
333